Geothermal

Geothermal is a renewable energy resource that offers long-term, sustainable and non-consumptive sources of power generation. Geothermal power plants are considered to be a base load power source because they can be operated 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, or whenever they are needed, unlike intermittent power sources like wind and solar energy. Idaho uses its geothermal resources for heating buildings, generating electricity, growing plants and aquatic species, and for recreation.

For over a century, Idaho has been tapping into the power provided by geothermal energy. Boise is home to the oldest geothermal district heating system in the United States, established in 1892, and the Idaho State Capitol Building is the only state Capitol building in the U.S. that is heated with geothermal energy.1 The Raft River Facility, which started generation in January 2007 2, was one of the first geothermal power plants in the Pacific Northwest. An estimated 17,000 GWh of geothermal power potential exists in Idaho, much of it in the southern portions of the State.[1] Ormat manages Idaho’s only operating commercial geothermal power plant, which is located at Raft River in Cassia County. The Raft River plant provides about 9 MW of net capacity.[2]

In addition to electric generation, direct-use of geothermal waters is the oldest, most versatile, and most prevalent utilization of geothermal energy.[3] Idaho has over 1,000 wells and 200 springs with water temperatures greater than 90°F.

There are two methods to extract energy as heat from geothermal water.

Method 1 – the open-loop system – works like this:

A well is drilled into a geothermal aquifer.

Geothermal water is withdrawn from the well.

The water circulates through the system, power plant or individual home.

Heat radiates from the distribution system (pipes in the floors or radiators) and warms the home.

Spent water is either reinjected into the aquifer or discharged away from the house.

Method 2– the closed-loop system, uses this approach:

A well is drilled into a geothermal aquifer.

Carbon steel or copper piping is placed in the well bore and down into the water (this is known as the downhole heat exchanger).

Piping connected to the downhole heat exchange is run into the house, under the floorboards or in radiators.

The piping is filled with water.

The ends of the pipe are joined together forming a closed loop.

The water circulates through the piping, usually with the aid of an in-line pump. As the water inside the loop passes through the piping in the well, the heat from the surrounding water is transferred into the closed loop. As the water circulates through the piping in the home, the heat is released.